Forum Display Enhancements - Alternate Last Post Display

Alternate Last Post Display
By: Idan B.

1. Description & Usage:
Alternate Last Post hack will allow the forum admin to make the "Last Post" column on forum look different (have another/better layout):
Hack will make it with user avatar picture & instead of showing post date, it will show "time diff" since the post (for example: 4 Hours, 5 Minutes ago") - See pictures in attachment for better understanding. :up:
This Hack can be enabled on both Forum Home & forum Display or Forum Display Only.
The hack was develop for request of Theater (request was made here: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=214212 )
I assumed this request might be "handy" to other users of community, so developed it to be a fully working modification.

2. Installation:
Please click Mark as Installed.
Installation is pretty easy - just download & install:

• Extract zip for product xml & no-avatar picture.
• Goto: AdminCP->Plugin System->Manage Products : Choose "Add/Import Product" and import this product xml (product-alt_last_post.xml)
• Upload the "anonymous_avatar.gif" file onto /images/avatars/ directory. If testing it on your develop board, be sure to upload there as well.

3. Upgrade From Older Version:
1. uninstall previous version
2. Download new version xml & install as instructed in previous section.

4. Configuration:
Once installed, the "Vbulletin Options" under admincp will have extra section:
Section name: "Alternate Last Post Display"

• Enabled ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Enable on Forum Home ? - Yes/No (default NO)
• Enable on Forum Display ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Use "Last Post" text as title ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Show differential time ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Align "Never" to LEFT ? - Yes/No (default YES)
• Use profile picture instead of avatar ? - Yes/No (default NO)
• Picture width - INT (default: 40)
• Picture height - INT (default: 40)
  

5. Known Bugs:

• Forum Tabbbed modification has known competability with this mod - result it is not showing on forumhome. Currently debugging this one to allow fix on next version.
• v1.1.4 released. Since v.1.1.0 code was re-writeen completely from "scratch" and now it should support multi-languages (other than english) ! Note: Cyrillic & Latin chars reported to have some issues, still under check)
• See changelog below for full description of stuff fixed.

6. TO-DO's LIST (Next Versions):

• Allow thread view option on admincp.
• Other mods (such as Forum Tabbed Modification) conflict fixes - under checking !.
• [S]Admincp option to set avatar width/height.[/S] added in v.1.1.4
• [S]Admincp option to select between profile and avatar picture.[/S] added in v.1.1.4

NOTE: Currently supported format chars for date/time (v1.1.4) are :
Date: "j","d", "m", "n", "F", "M", "Y", "y","S"
Time: "h", "H", "g", "G", "i", "s", "a", "A".
Any other chars will result with Post Time: N/A displayed !

NOTE: i've left v1.1.3 and added in addition the v1.1.4, just in case anyone has problem, he can download old version & rollback.

Enjoy hack & dont forget to click Mark as Installed

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by goxy63

1.Can you please edit mod for non english languages (serbian latin and cyrillic in my case)
Nicknames with lets say these signs šđčćž dont have avatars displayed

2.Also I would like to use original title with normal date and time (06-06-09 00:17)

Thanks for awesome hack but I just cant use it if its only for english letters

1. It should support non-english chars. For nick display i'm using built-in vbulletin variable called $lastpostinfo[lastposter] (same var that's inside the forumhome_lastpostby template). So unless some other mod that modify this var, it should display it correctly.

Only possible language problem conflict might be the date when using time string of "F" or "M". However, that should be also covered. I'm currently using the following regexp [a-zA-Z\xE0-\xFF]+ - as far as i know it should cover all language characters. If i'm mistaken, please provide feedback of your language range.

EDIT: i've tested some of the chars you've mentioned to the regexp, and indeed found 2 chars didnt catch by the regexp.
changing the regexp to: [a-zA-Z\x00-\xFF]+ should fix the problem. i'll upload it on v1.1.3

2.Original title already available as an option, check admincp (last option).

3. About "normal date", i'll see what i can do, perhaps i'll add it as admincp option in future version.

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by ArnyVee

IdanB,

I have the tabbed forum home mod and this isn't showing for me. What do you suggest I do to get this to show?

hmmm, the forumhome page displayed relays on THIS_SCRIPT php define.
On normal case it's set to "index" & this is what i'm currently checking.
I think the tabbed home mod is based on forumdisplay categories, sending each tab to it's own sub category, but that should work (as currently forumdisplay is covered), unless the mod changes this define value.

If you want to help me code support for it, add some dummy plugin hook to "forumbit_display" with single line in it:

PHP Code:

die(THIS_SCRIPT); 


Then when reloading tabbed home page, it should kill echo (white page), but will print on top the value of define shown for the tabbed home.
Once that made (and you've written the value down), you can just delete the hook we've just created & everything will be back to normal.
With that i can allow certain bypass for the mentioned mod)

[dancue]

Originally Posted by IdanB

What time string are you using ?

Are you referring to the time string within vbulletin?

h:i A

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by dancue

Are you referring to the time string within vbulletin?

h:i A

Yes. Dont think that time string is the problem.
What is current configuration for "Format For Date" ? and what language are you using ?

[goxy63]

woooowww
This is what I call mod is supported, thanks for your kind reply

regarding to those chars, these are problem at my board but if you fixed those above that resolves my main problem

Please if you have time check these too

Cyrillic Alphabet
Б б, Г г, Д д, Ђ ђ, Ж ж, З з, И и, Л л, Љ љ, Њ њ, П п, Ћ ћ, У у, Ф ф, Ц ц, Ч ч, Џ џ, Ш ш

Latin alphabet
Đ, đ, Ž, Ć, Č, Š

Thanks a lot

cheers

[keyness]

Nice hack! Thanks!

However I uninstalled because it looks untidy because of different dimensions of avatars. Also I had time issue too.

I'll reinstall when it looks more charming. Thanks again!

[dancue]

Originally Posted by IdanB

Yes. Dont think that time string is the problem.
What is current configuration for "Format For Date" ? and what language are you using ?

m-d-Y

English

[IdanB]

v1.1.3 will be uploaded in a few minutes.
Amoung fixes that should be within are:
1. fix for regexp for more non-english chars.
2. avatar pictures now will be forced to 40x40
3. vbSEO admincp option removed - no needed, automatically detected & handled.
4. 2 more admincp options:
A] option to select time format: xxx ago / normal date & time.
B] option to align left the "never" phrase

[IdanB]

Originally Posted by keyness

Nice hack! Thanks!

However I uninstalled because it looks untidy because of different dimensions of avatars. Also I had time issue too.

I'll reinstall when it looks more charming. Thanks again!

was fixed in code already - grab v1.1.3 when it's online.

[dancue]

Very nice! Quick!!